HSBC Holdings Inc. has signed a $249 million accord to settle claims of improper U.S. foreclosures, joining 12 other mortgage servicers in a deal that now exceeds $9 billion, according to banking regulators.

U.S. banks had $141.3 billion in net income last year, the second-best on record behind the $145.2 billion total reported for 2006, on non-interest income and lower loss provisions, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said.